Cushioned handle bar



Sept. 19, 1944.

F. W. SCHWINN cUsHIoNE HANDLEBAR Original Filed Jan. 5, 1942 34- 35 .zz 3o M75-amigar. v

Patented Sept. 19, 1944 Original application January 5, 1942, Serial No. 425,600. Divided and this application April 10,

1944, Serial N0. 530,285

-1'4 claims. wel. vri-55.1.2)

This invention relates to a bicycle handlebar construction which is `cushioned againstroad shocks and vibrations.

'Ihe rpresent application is a division of r my copending application Serial No. 425,600, filed January 5, 1942.

A salient object of the present invention isV to provide an excellently and adequately cushioned handlebar of composite construction thatY may be assembled with the clamping eye of abic'ycle steering post without threading the handlebar through the clamping eye. K v 1 c Another object of the invention is to provide a bicycle Yhandlebar comprising generally similar halves, each having end portions cushionedconnected together, that have juxtaposedtelescoping extremities which are received within the K embrace of the clamping eye of a bicycle steering post and eiectively are there held against movements relative 'to each otherv or said clamping eye.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sturdy and generally improved cushioned handlebar that may be economically manufactured and that may be easily assembled with and disassembled from a vbicycle steering post of preferred conventional construction;4

Other objects, features and advantages of my invention will appeary from the following detailed description wherein referenceA is made `to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View through the mid-portion of the handlebar of the present invention; Y

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-'6 of Fig. 1; L

Fig. 3 is an exploded assembly View; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sideA elevational view, partially broken away to expose certain details, of a slight variant of the structure depicted in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive.

Similar characters of reference` refer to similar parts throughout the several? views.

The handlebar of the present invention. Vcomprises identically constructed but complementary left and right handlebar sections or arms 30 and 3|, respectively, each of which is secured at its inner extremity' as by butt welding 32 to the end of a short tubular stem 33" formed concentrical-ly integral with an axially facing, radially extending'fl'angev 34 of substantial. area. vThe flanges 34 may be two and a half tothree times asgreat in diameter as the Handlebar tube,ffor which 'V8 inch tubing may `be used.

Y AA concentric spaced relationship of the flanges lare preferably disk rings of rubber intimately bonded directly Yto the engaged faces of the flanges. g

The density/and tensile strength ofthe material of therconnecting cushions 38 issuch that the flanges 34 may rock to a limitedextent ro tatively relative to` theassociated anges 31 as well as about any Ldiametrical axis. ''hegresiliency of the rubber cushions causes them to; act as torsion springs to return the flanges to normal Ywhen relieved of the forces which have, f caused the rocking movement thereof.

Moreover, due to the complete separation of the opposing flanges 34 and-f 31 and their entire dependence upon the interposed resilient cushions 38 for union, limited relative axial movement of the `flanges, is permitted `by compression or stretching of the cushions. As a'result of this 'complete cushioned separation of the anges and lfectually dampened.

In order to avoid thenconventional threading of the handlebar through the clamping eye in either assembly or disassembly operations, the

clampv seat 35 is formed of axially separable telescoping members. One of the flanges 31 is formed with an axial, tubular shank 39l Whichis preferably of substantially the same external diameter as al conventional clamp seaty ferrule so as to besnugly embraced by the eye clamp Il when the latter is tightened. The other flange 31 is formed with an axialtubular shank 40 of approximately the same external diameter asthe internal diameter of the shank- 39 into which the shank 40 is adapted to tl inl slidable telescopic relation. j

Thorough gripping of the s'h'ank 40-a-gainst longitudinal separation from the shank '39* is assu-red by providing the shank 35' with a plurality of longitudinal slots 4|' which separate it intol a plurality of relatively' yieldable segments that are driven tightly against the periphery *of the shank 40 by the pressure exerted by the con"- ventional eye clamp Il termed! at the end of a gooseneck extension I2 ofv a bicycle steering' post dle grip sections.

Y the telescoping members, a stratum of cushionv Thus, the outer shank, identied by the numeral engage external threads 4l formed on the inner shank, identified by the numeral 4B. Longitudinal slots 49 in the outer shank 44 assure thorough gripping of the inner shank 48 to hold the same against relative rotary movement after the vclamping eye has been tightened against the seat.

It will be Vapparentthat the novel handlebar construction of my Vpresent invention is effectively protected against shocks and vibration because each handle grip section is separately insulated by a generously proportioned absorbing cushion. A special advantage of the relatively large engagement areas of the cushions resides inthe practicability of thereby securing the handle grip sections to the clamp seat structure solely Vbythe cushions, thus avoiding. the use of any inter-connecting structure Vof a type through which vibration might be transmitted from the steering postY through the clamp seat to the han-y It may also be noted that these improvements and refinements have been incorporated in the handlebar in such a manner as to enable use of the handlebar with a conventional standard size of steering post clamp, thus rendering the handlebarV available for practically unlimited use. Y j Having thus illustrated and described two prel44, may be formed with internal threads 45 to Y CIV ing material disposed between and attached to the flanges of each pair of adjacent flanges, and aV plurality of spaced apart longitudinal slots formed in the outer one of said telescoping members.

4. In a handlebar, a pair of substantially spaced apart flanges each carried by one ofv a pair of telescoping members receivable within the embrace of a steering post clamping eye disposed between said flanges, a pair 0f handlebar arm sections each provided at one end with a ilange disposed adjacent to the flange of one of the tele- .scopingmembers a stratum of cushioning material disposed between and attached to the flanges of each'pair of adjacent flanges, and inter-engaging means preventing relative rotation between said telescoping members.

5. In a handlebar, a pair of substantially spaced apart flanges each carried by one of a pair of telescoping members receivabler within the embrace of a steering post clamping eye disposed between said flanges, a pair of handlebar arm sections each provided at one end with a iiange disposed adjacent to the ange of one of the telescoping members, a stratum of cushioning material disposed between and attached to the flanges of each pair of adjacent flanges, a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal slots formed in the outer one of said telescoping members, and inter-engaging means carried by the telescoping members serving to preventtheir relative rotation. 1

6. In a handlebar, a pair of substantially spaced apart flanges each carried by one of a pair'of telescoping members receivable within the embrace of a steering post clamping eye disposed Y between said anges, a pair of handlebar arm ferred embodiments of my present invention, what V I claimas new and desireto secure by Letters l'Patent of the United States is:

1. In a handlebar, a pair Vspaced apart flanges each carried by one of a `pairof telescoping members receivablewithin fthe embrace of a steering post clamping eye disy'posed between said flanges, a pair of handlebar arm sections each provided at one end with a flange disposed adjacent to the ange of one of the telescoping members, and a stratum of cushioning material disposed between and attached vto the flanges of each pair of adjacent flanges.

2. In a handlebar, a pair of substantially spaced apart flanges each carried by one of a pair'of telescoping members receivable within the embrace ofa steering post clamping eye disposed between said flanges, a pair of handlebar arm sections each provided at one end with a flange disposed adjacent to the ilange of one of the telescoping members, a stratum of cushioning material disposed between and attached to the iianges of eachpair of adjacent flanges, a longitudinal rib carried by one of said telescoping members, and a longitudinal groove receiving said rib carried by the other of said telescoping members.

of substantially sections each provided at one end with a ange disposed adjacent tothe flange of one of the telescopingmembers, and a stratum of cushioning material disposed between andattached to the flanges Vof each pairof adjacent flanges, said telescoping members being screw-threadedone within the other.

7. In a handlebar, a pair of substantially spaced apart flangesV each carried by one of a pair of telescoping members receivable within the embrace of ar steeringpost clamping eye disposed between said flanges, a Vpair of handlebar arm sections each ,providedat'one end witha flange disposed adjacent to the flange Vof oneA of the telescoping members,` and a stratum of cushioning material disposed between and attached to the anges of eachr pair of adjacent flanges, said telescoping members being screw-threaded one within the other and the outer one of said screwthreaded members being longitudinallyrslotted.

8. In a handlebara pair of substantially spaced apart flanges each carried by one of a pair of telescoping members receivable within the` emv brace `of a steering post clamping eye disposed between said flanges, a pair of handlebar arm sections Veach providedat Vone end with a flange disposed adjacent to the flange of one of the telescoping members,.and a stratum of cushioning material disposed between and attached to the flanges of each pair of adjacent flanges, one of said telescoping members .being longitudinally slotted. Y y 1 9. Ahandlebar comprising, ineombination, a pair of separate handle gllipsections, a separate shank member for: each of Vsaid sections, cushioning means permanently unitinga each of said shankmembers with its. respective handle grip section, said shank members being in telescopic interengagement to form a seat for engagement by the eye clamp of` -a bicycle steering post.

10. A handlebar .comprising two halves each comprising a pair of members connected end to end by a cushioned joint of substantially greater Y diameter than the connected members, corretionship to the anges of the arm sections, said spaced apart relationshipto the radial flange of one of said telescoping members, and a stratum of cushioning material disposed between and attached to the flanges of each pair of proximate opposed spaced apart flanges.

13. In a handlebar, a pair of substantially spaced apart flanges e each carried by one of a pair of telescoping members receivable within the embrace of a steering post clamping eye disposed f between and adjacent to said anges, a pair of f handlebar arm sections each provided at one end telescoping members being receivable Within the embrace of the clamping eye of a steering post, and a stratum of cushioning material disposed between and bonded to the flanges of each pair of opposed spaced apart anges.

12. In a'handlebar, a pair of telescoping members provided at opposite ends with radial flanges, said telescoping members being receivable within the embrace of a steering post clamping eye with a ange disposed in proximate parallel relationship with a flange of one of the telescoping members, and a stratum of cushioning material disposed between and attached to the flanges of each pair of proximate parallel flanges.

14. In a handlebar, a pair Aof substantially spaced apart flanges each carried by one of a pair of telescoping members receivable within the embrace of a steering post clamping eye disposed i between and adjacent to said flanges, a pair of disposed between and adjacent to said flanges, a

pair of handlebar arm sections each provided with handlebar arm sections each provided at one end with a ange disposed adjacent to a flange of one of the telescoping members, and a stratum of Y cushioning material disposed between and 'attached to thevanges of each pair of adjacent flanges. A

FRANK W. SCHWINN.

a radial flange disposed in proximate opposed 

